Big Baby says Jacque Vaughn's coaching style suits him perfectly

Sometimes the most basic questions yield the most thoughtful answers, and that’s what occurred this morning when Fox Sports Florida’s Paul Kennedy asked Glen Davis to compare the coaching styles of Magic coach Jacque Vaughn and Celtics coach and former Magic coach Doc Rivers.

Davis, who now plays for Vaughn and spent the first four seasons of his career playing for Rivers, thinks there’s a sharp contrast between the way the two coaches communicate.

According to Davis, Rivers’ style was necessary when Davis was starting out in the league, but Vaughn’s style is more conducive for him now. Davis' comments give some insight into how the Magic's new coach relates to his players.

“Doc is more of a military-minded type of guy,” Davis said. “Jacque is more of a Gandhi type of guy: soft but powerful. Doc is more of a ‘get-the-job-done’ [person]. Jacque Vaughn is more of a guy who’ll ask you, ‘What’ll make you feel comfortable to get the job done?’

“I think that’s different with players, but sometimes I think my system and the way I feel and the way I function, I feel like I function better in Jacque’s system. Doc wasn’t the type of guy to pat you on your back and say, ‘Good job, man.’ He’s more like, ‘All right, move on.’

“In a way, that’s positive. But some players are different. Jacque is a different guy. He’ll pat you on the back [and say] ‘good job’ to motivate you. But at the same time, he still holds you accountable if you’re doing things wrong.”

Davis’ relationship with Rivers had been described by Boston-area media as running “hot and cold,” and that description was accurate.

Davis had his bouts of immaturity during his Celtics tenure, and those episodes forced Rivers to employ a tough-love approach.

For example, a few days before Boston’s 2009-10 season opener, Davis was involved in an altercation with a friend, and the incident left Davis with a broken right thumb. The injury required surgery, forced Davis to miss a chunk of the season and prompted the Celtics to suspend him briefly.

Davis also had a rocky start to his first season in Orlando last year — pouting after he didn’t begin the year as a starter and getting into a screaming match with Stan Van Gundy after Davis tried to point something out during a team shootaround.

But Davis’ career gained traction again after he played well once Dwight Howard went out with a season-ending back injury and after Vaughn was hired a few months later as the Magic’s coach.

Davis is 26 years old now, and he acknowledges he needed Rivers’ tough-love approach.

Vaughn named Davis a co-captain prior to the regular season.

But Davis indicated that his relationship with Vaughn might not be as productive as it is if Rivers hadn’t set the groundwork years ago.

“I was a rookie and I made rookie mistakes,” Davis said. “You need a guy like Doc to set you straight. But now, knowing what I know now and what Doc has taught me, Jacque doesn’t have to really [say], ‘Hey, man, do this. Hey, man, do that.’ ”

Vaughn knows Rivers well, of course.

In 2002-03, Rivers coached Vaughn when Vaughn signed with the Magic.

“Doc was an unbelievable motivator,” Vaughn said.

“He had some anecdote or story or something to give to you and get you ready for a game. You felt his competition level every game, and he had a really good way of communicating with guys, too. I learned a lot.”